💬 Episode Summary

In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of The Heald Approach Podcast, Rebecca sits down (again) with the unstoppable Holly Kattenhorn, who’s leading her family’s road surfacing business into a new era, one built on inclusion, honesty, and human leadership.

From balancing motherhood and leadership to challenging old-school mindsets in construction, Holly opens up about what it really takes to run a business, raise kids, and stay true to yourself without burning out.

This isn’t your polished “women in construction” story. It’s the unfiltered reality...juggling painkillers and spreadsheets, chasing health goals while fighting self-pressure, and finding pride in doing things differently.

👉 This episode is proudly sponsored by the Highways Construction Training Association (HCTA): driving skills, standards, and leadership excellence across the highways and infrastructure industry.

🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways

1. The Pressure to ‘Have It All’
Holly and Rebecca unpack the hidden expectations on women, to look perfect, lead perfectly, and parent perfectly, and how that pressure shows up in everyday life.

2. Redefining Leadership in Family Businesses
Holly shares her journey leading her multigenerational company alongside her father and grandfather’s legacy, bringing modern values into traditional construction culture.

3. Mental Health, Fitness, and Self-Worth
The two get real about how physical fitness and mental health are intertwined and how societal beauty standards still weigh heavily on women in leadership.

4. The Reality of Working Mothers
From cooking three different dinners to managing teenage moods, Holly and Rebecca talk about guilt, grace, and the importance of slowing down to reconnect.

5. The Apprenticeship Gap
They explore how employers can better support apprentices — and why the future of construction depends on building workplaces that are flexible, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent.

6. Culture, Connection, and Emotional Intelligence
Holly reflects on introducing emotional intelligence training in a male-heavy environment and how it reshaped team dynamics, trust, and communication.

💡 Memorable Quotes

“You’ve got to be that role model for yourself before you can lead others.”, Holly Kattenhorn

“You can’t fix burnout with yoga classes, and you can’t fix culture with biscuits and away days.”, Rebecca Heald

“The construction industry will only thrive when we stop blaming people and start fixing the systems that hold them back.” , Rebecca Heald

🎧 Why You Should Listen

If you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your personal life, or questioned whether you’re doing enough, this episode will hit home. It’s a reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.

🤝 Sponsored by

Highways Construction Training Association (HCTA)
Championing excellence, inclusion, and the future of UK highways and infrastructure.

🔗 Connect with Holly

LinkedIn: Holly Kattenhorn
Company: Kattenhorn Road Surfacing

🔗 Connect with Rebecca

LinkedIn: Rebecca Heald
Website: www.rebeccaheald.com
Podcast: The Heald Approach

In this powerful episode of The Heald Approach Podcast in partnership with The Hampshire Construction Training Association , Rebecca sits down with Jason Woodward, SHEQ Manager at PT Contractors, committee member of the Hampshire Construction Training Association, and the driving force behind the award-winning iConstruct initiative.Jason’s story is a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and system change, from navigating the high-risk world of marine salvage to reshaping the culture of construction. Together, Rebecca and Jason unpack how industries can evolve when we stop accepting “that’s just the way it is” and start asking, “how do we make it better?”💡 Key ThemesFrom sea to site: how Jason’s early years in the marine industry shaped his leadership philosophy and passion for safety, culture, and people.Culture as the missing link: why changing attitudes, not just policies, is the key to attracting and keeping talent in construction.Neurodiversity as a superpower: Jason’s story of dyslexia, resilience, and how thinking differently can solve problems others can’t even see.Education’s broken pipeline: why outdated perceptions still push bright young people away from construction, and how that’s starting to shift.The iConstruct movement: how a simple idea grew from one event to hundreds of schools, connecting thousands of students with real-world opportunities in construction.Legacy through leadership: how industry role models, inclusive cultures, and community commitment are building the next generation of leaders.🧠 Quote Highlights“Don’t listen to those negative voices, internal or external. I was called thick at school, but I went on to get my master’s ticket and become a chartered professional. Hard work pays off.” Jason Woodward“We’ve got to stop moaning about the talent gap and start doing something about it.” Jason Woodward“When you open your doors and open your mind, people flourish and they’ll pay you back in dividends.” Jason Woodward“Leadership isn’t a job title. It’s a behaviour.” Rebecca Heald🌍 Why You Should ListenThis episode is for anyone who cares about the future of construction, leaders, educators, parents, and anyone tired of seeing the same outdated systems hold people back. Jason shows what’s possible when inclusion meets innovation, when action replaces talk, and when we decide to fix the system, not the people.🔗 Connect with JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-woodward-cmiosh-355b4141/Learn more about iConstruct and the Hampshire Construction Training Association (HCTA): https://www.hcta.org.uk/iconstruct/🔗 Connect with RebeccaFollow @RebeccaHeald on LinkedIn for bold conversations on leadership, inclusion, and sustainable change.Listen to The Heald Approach Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

What if a brick could absorb CO₂ instead of emitting it?

In this episode of The Heald Approach Podcast, I sit down with Mat Davies, National Specification Manager at Vandersanden, to explore Pirrouet – the carbon negative brick that is rewriting what’s possible in sustainable construction.

Together, we unpack:

Why Pirrouet sequesters 60kg of CO₂ per tonne and what that means for net zero constructionThe cultural and regulatory barriers holding back innovation in the UK

How Vandersanden’s family-owned ethos enables long-term, bold investments

Why architects, clients, and contractors must collaborate if sustainability is to stick

The importance of supporting future talent through the Vandersanden Academy and RIBA initiatives

This is not just a conversation about bricks. It’s about leadership, culture, and the choices we make today that will define the industry’s legacy tomorrow.

Guest Bio:

Mat Davies is the National Specification Manager at Vandersanden, Europe’s largest family-owned brick manufacturer. Since joining in 2020, he has been an advocate for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration in the built environment. Matt is deeply involved in introducing Pirrouet to the UK market and works closely with architects, clients, and students to raise awareness of sustainable design and construction.

Links and Resources:

Learn more about Pirrouet -

Discover Vandersanden’s Together to Zero sustainability strategy

Read the blog

Listen & Subscribe:🎧 The Heald Approach Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.